Anson Economic Development Corporation

There are two schools of thought about how a bypass would impact Wadesboro. The Pessimists suggest that rerouting beach traffic from the current 74 "strip" would devastate the local economy, driving virtually all of the convenience stores and fast food restaurants to relocate or go out of business entirely. The Optimists on the other hand, believe that drawing some of these businesses out away from the Uptown would allow smaller, locally-operated businesses to flourish in a more traditional main street atmosphere. The reality is likely somewhere in-between. The long-rumored bypass around Wadesboro has gained support in Raleigh over the past few years as the state has invested in upgrades at the Port of Wilmington. A key part of the port strategy is improving the road connectivity between Charlotte and Wilmington, aka US 74. Bypasses around Rockingham and other small towns have cut the travel time from Charlotte to the port from 4+ hours to 3 1/2, and the Monroe Expressway...

One question often asked of economic developers is whether the good jobs we announce are actually going to local residents or are filled by people from outside the area. It's a fair question, especially in a county with a small population and a limited resident pool of employees. The "skills gap" can be a major factor in determining how many of those well-paying jobs are filled by locals. This gap exists when the skills readily available in the workforce do not align with the skills needed to fill open jobs. Examples of skills in high demand in Anson County right now are; CNC Operator, Carpenter, Electrician, Welder and Forklift Operator. All of these positions require either a certification or advanced training, and while there are unskilled labor jobs available,  they tend to pay far less. Recently, we announced that Columbus McKinnon was expanding their Wadesboro operations and would be hiring 19 new employees. Most of these new positions will pay $20+ per hour, bu...

Anson County Airport is among 19 airports statewide awarded state and federal funds for improvements. The N.C Board of Transportation approved the award during its May meeting. Anson County Airport-Jeff Cloud Field will receive $37,000 toward fencing to secure the perimeter of the airport. Below are the other awards. The funds awarded do not in all cases represent the total cost of the project. Albert J. Ellis, Richlands: $615,000 for airfield lighting rehabilitation Cape Fear Regional Jetport: $400,000 for runway extension land Duplin County: $1.2 million for runway widening and strengthening, lighting and a new taxiway Elizabeth City Regional: $291,480 for drainage rehabilitation Gastonia Municipal: $20,000 for runway alignment and new site alternatives analysis Hickory Regional: $915,000 for reconstruction of the north ramp after tornado damage last year Johnston County: $556,200 for drainage repair and rehabilitation Laurinburg-Maxton: $275,000 for localizer replacemen...

Over the next six months, residents of Anson County are going to be deluged with information, and disinformation, about the liquor referendum which will be on the county-wide ballot in November. Alcohol sales are one of a handful of topics -- along with schools and taxes -- which strike a deep and resonant chord with multiple sectors of the electorate. While the alcohol debate is often framed as "churches versus businesses," it's actually far more complex and nuanced. First of all, let me say that I fully understand and am sympathetic to the arguments opponents of the liquor referendum will employ. Many of them are based on closely-held personal beliefs or personal experiences, and I in no way want to diminish or marginalize those beliefs or experiences. Those who have suffered through or seen loved ones suffer through alcoholism or who have seen the carnage wrought by a drunken driver deserve to have their views heard and considered. However, as Anson County co...

Last Wednesday, AnsonEDP announced that Catawba Biogas would be building a $15 million poultry waste to natural gas conversion plant near Lilesville. Since then, our shop has been fielding a few common questions and we thought it might be useful to post those answers here on our blog. Is Catawba Biogas the same company that proposed a poultry waste digester near Wadesboro in 2017? No. This is a completely different company with a completely different technology. Who owns Catawba Biogas? Catawba Biogas is owned by Ductor North America, Inc., a company based in Finland. What types of jobs will be available at the facility when it opens in 2019 and how do I apply for them? The plant will have a fairly typical organizational structure. There will be a plant manager, an engineer and several operators. The company will begin hiring for those positions in 2019 and will likely post the jobs on NCWorks. In addition to the 8-10 direct hires, the plant will contract for services lik...

Anson Economic Development Partnership (AnsonEDP) is pleased to announce that Catawba Biogas, a leading operator of renewable energy facilities, will locate a new poultry waste to natural gas conversion plant in Anson County. The company plans to invest at least $15 million in state-of-the-art biogas technology, and is expected to break ground later this year on a site near the Pee Dee Electric gas turbine "peaking" plant east of Lilesville. The facility will employ 8-10 at wages above the county average of $32,584 when fully operational in 2019. Located in the heart of the "Broiler Belt," Anson County is home to more than 940 poultry houses and produces 5.5 million birds annually. Traditionally, farmers have applied poultry waste to their fields as fertilizer, but as the number of poultry houses has increased and land devoted to row crop production has peaked, poultry growers are finding themselves with more waste than they can efficiently dispose of in an e...